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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Benefit CD for Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap in stores now

When guitarist Slim Dunlap suffered a debilitating stroke last year, the music community rallied around him and came to his aid. His former band The Replacements reformed and headed into the studio in support of their old friend.

The resulting session, the Songs For Slim EP,
consisting of five covers, including two of Slim's songs, was released
in January of this year as a limited edition auction-only 10-inch record
and propelled a nearly year long project to help pay for Slim's
long-term medical care.

That initial EP was followed by a monthly
auction-only 7-inch series featuring musicians like Jeff Tweedy, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Frank Black, Craig Finn and John Doe covering songs from Slim's two post-Replacements solo records, The Old New Me and Times Like This.

Songs For Slim - Rockin Here Tonight: A Benefit Compilation For Slim Dunlap just came out via New West Records
and compiles all the Slim covers from the series
into a two-disc album with a second disc of previously unreleased bonus
material from The Jayhawks' pseudonymous LP.ORG, Soul Asylum, The Young Fresh Fellows, Peter Holsapple (The dB's) and more.

The compilation features a cover painted by Slim's former bandmate-turned-artist Chris Mars and a 16-page booklet complete with liner notes by original Replacements manager Peter Jesperson, who spearheaded the project.

Disc one kicks off with the first song from The Replacements' Songs for Slim EP, "Busted Up," and includes all tracks released on the seven limited run double A-side 7-inches as well as the Record Store Day exclusive 7-inch that paired The Minus Five featuring Curtiss A on one side and Tim O'Reagan and Jim Boquist on the other.

The second disc features 10 additional tracks, anchored by seven more Slim covers - including the unreleased "Two By Two," done here by his son Louie, daughter Bee and longtime bandmate Brien Lilja.

Also featured are two songs written for Slim - "Slim's Place," a rockin' little ditty the Young Fresh Fellows whipped up in the same session as their other track for Songs For Slim, and "When I Fall Down," written and recorded by Chris Mars shortly after he heard about the stroke. Finally, there's "Love Lost," an obscure James Burton instrumental that was covered by Slim on his first solo record, The Old New Me. Here it's done by The West Saugerties Ale And Quail Club, with their Woodstock neighbor, legendary harmonica player John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful.

On November 1, Slim celebrates one year at home, under the care of his family. Slim's wife Chrissie Dunlap
says: "His comfort has been interrupted by many trips to the hospital,
but his will to live is strong. His mantra is 'Fight, fight, fight.' All
of us who love him are fighting with, and for, him. His strength, along
with the love and support of so many wonderful friends and fans, has
kept him going. Slim is so grateful for the Songs For Slim project and
takes great joy in listening to his songs performed by some of his
favorite musicians and friends. The revenue from the project has saved
us from financial ruin, enabled us to hire nursing help and therapists,
and helped to make him as comfortable as possible. Slim and the family
send our love and gratitude to New West and everyone involved in the
project, and everyone who bought a song for Slim. Special thanks to our
long time friend, Peter Jesperson, who worked tirelessly to produce
Songs for Slim, and to whom we are eternally grateful."

To date the non-profit Songs For Slim project has help raise raised nearly $200,000 for Slim who was left bed-ridden by the stroke - paralyzed on his left side, unable to swallow and very frail. All proceeds have gone, and continue to go, towards assisting
Slim and his family with the significant expenses related towards his
long-term care.